Keunsoo “Jimmy” Chae wears many hats: father of two daughters, photographer of weddings and other events, and opponent of anti-Asian bias.

He'll wear yet another starting Jan. 1, when he is sworn in to the Dumont Borough Council as the first Korean-American to ever serve on the council.

Chae gained attention this summer for protesting racist remarks aimed at Korean-Americans, which were made by the mother of Palisades Park Mayor James Rotundo on social media.

Chae, turning 41 this week, won the three-year seat on Tuesday with an unofficial total of 3,088 votes. He ran on a ticket with Damon Englese, who also won a three-year seat with 3,175 votes, and Councilwoman Lisa Rossillo, who won a one-year unexpired term with 3,323 votes. Democrats Chae, Englese and Rossillo prevailed over Republicans Joan Diore, Stephen O'Neill and Xheladin Zenali.

"I feel great, I feel really proud about my team," Chae said Wednesday. "I feel really good about all my volunteers and all the people that voted. I couldn't be happier."

Englese, 39, the principal of E. Roy Bixby Elementary School in Bogota, called the wins by himself and his ballot mates a "great victory." He has lived with his wife in town for seven years.

"We walked for over two months, we knocked on doors, we told people we believed in the town, and then we're going to help them and do whatever we can to make Dumont a better place than it is now," Englese said.

Englese, also a first-time candidate, said being part of a "diverse ticket" is the best way to represent Dumont.

Rossillo, 47, a teacher in the Fairview school system, said serving is going to be a "fun and exciting journey." She is the council veteran of the team, appointed in March to fill the unexpired term of Barbara Correa, who stepped down from the post.

The 15-year resident and mother of two sons said, "Together, I think we're going to be making great decisions moving Dumont forward."

Working on priorities

Chae and Englese have been invited to sit in on closed council sessions to learn more about how the council conducts its business.

Once in office, Chae's first priority is helping move along the construction of the new Borough Hall on Washington Avenue, which is expected to start by the end of the year.

In particular, his focus is on the Dumont Police Department, which works in trailers on the property of the old Borough Hall.

"I really think it's important that our officers are in a real building and that we have a real town hall to meet constituents and have meetings," Chae said.

Englese said, "A lot of people are upset with a lot of the roads, which need to be paved and worked on, so that is something I want to deliver for these people."

All three also plan to work with their council colleagues on helping residents deal with stabilizing property taxes, which were $10,828 last year for a home assessed at $307,251, the borough average.

Chae also has talked with Englese and Rossillo about communication.

"One of the things that we promised was to have a real, open clear communication with our constituents," Chae said.

Chae hopes to strike a balance between his activism and public service to the town where he resides.

"Now that I am an elected official, I am going to be more cognizant about what I do and don't," Chae said. "But I am still going to be the person that fights for rights and equality because I don't believe anyone should be bullied and brought down with angry words."

He also hopes to be a role model. "Hopefully, with my win, I can definitely encourage other younger Asian-American hopefuls who are interested in politics to come out and get engaged," Chae said.